small time farming

Nick167

Member
If I was to find a few acres to rent for maybe this next coming season in corn or bean ground would I be able to make enough off of it to cover all my costs? I'm talking 2 acres to about 10.
 

Every farmer would like to know the answer to that!! I guess the suspense is part of the reason we keep doin' it.

Ben
 
I would think a lot would depend on what you would consider "all your costs" and if the ground you rent is ready to produce. In northern OH, corn is listed at $3.50 per bushel currently. Six acres @ 150(optimistic) bu/acre will net you $3,150. Work back from there. My guess is no.
 
Boy, it would be close. I guess your rent cost is a big factor. Only you know what that cost might be, given current rent prices in your area. I am doubtful, with current prices, you'd recover all expenses for seed, fertilizer, rent, fuel, unexpected breakdowns, etc.
 
Got a guy who rents 10 acres from me. Told me last year, after he paid me, he broke even on my field, but he will use those beans next year to replant a lot more acreage. Now, he did have to do some work to the field to get it back in shape, so I guess he added that in as well.
 
Do the math.Find your input costs.figure the expected yield.Figure higher inputs,lower yields.Expect some unexpected costs. figure you will work for 'free'.Then make your own decision.
 
You are much better off raising a specialty product on small acreages than a commodity, I really doubt you can turn a buck on 2 acres.
 
(quoted from post at 06:06:05 08/03/15) If I was to find a few acres to rent for maybe this next coming season in corn or bean ground would I be able to make enough off of it to cover all my costs? I'm talking 2 acres to about 10.
eep on dreaming
 
If you already have all the eqt and don't have to buy any, you may break even at best. Depends on the crop and the area. If you were in KS and tried to raise wheat, figure 50 bu at $4.50 per bushel is $225.00 return per acre. Pretty hard to make any money on that.

Like below, if you can do some type of specialty crop or produce, you might have a different outcome. Small grains, or beans/corn no way. But if you just want to play with some old tractors, etc, it might work for you anyway. Bob
 
If it's just a couple acres I'd give it a try. That would be a good test with real world conditions without getting hurt bad if it doesn't work out
 
The projection for Minnesota is we will lose $247 an acre on corn.

That assumes good land, good yields, and $250 rent.

So,if you can rent your land for $2, I guess you might make a dollar.


A more practical answer, what do you hope to yield?

Times $3.50 or whatever your local price is, gives you the gross you will receive.

Subtract your rent, seed, fertilizer, weed control, and is assume you won't count your labor or machinery.

I bet you lose a bit, but it might be a fun hobby worth the cost.

Paul
 
"cover all my costs?" Nowhere near enough info in that question. If, for example, a relative or friend is willing to let you use their drill for a small fee, or better yet, for some sort of barter arrangement? Can you no-til in your area? If you can, will the drill or planter you use be suitable for no-til planting? Harvesting? Do you have a neighbor with a combine that is willing to swing through your little patch? Combiners around me charge about $40 per acre and you pay for the fuel on top of that. Seed costs. $300+ per bag for corn. 32-34000 seeds per acre. $75 per bag for soybeans. 150-200k seeds per acre. Fertilizer? Do soil tests. Do you have a Co+op or someone like ADM nearby where they will bring out a spreader with fertilizer? (two kinds of spreaders. one is the kind you pull around with your tractor. the other is the large type that they drive around). When the combiner comes, do you have something like gravity boxes or a truck to put the grain in. Some combiners have all that stuff. If you do it with a truck or gravity boxes or grain cart (grain carts require a BIG TRACTOR) is there a nearby elevator to haul to? The trick is going to be to hold down your costs to the absolute minimum. Soybeans are under $10 right now and probably won't go up anytime soon. So, how many bushels to the acre? 50, maybe? 10 acres = 500 [email protected] = $4750.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top